Ben Harris/Senior Reporter

To my venerable ancestors and forefathers, I have this to say; your life must have stunk.

To my children, children’s children and so on; I am jealous beyond words.

The reason, of course, is Facebook and Twitter.

Even the generation before mine is disadvantaged. Myspace is an old farmer who plows his fields with oxen and chews on wheat to help his concentration during the annual barn repainting.

But now, with most of the Internet world on Facebook, things that were never before even thinkable are a reality. It’s like the world’s yearbook.

Now, I can keep track of all the people I went to high school with and see the minute details of the everyday lives of acquaintances. I can know who’s working from 4 to 8 p.m., who ate peanut butter and jelly for lunch and who’s just so sick and tired of being sick and tired. It’s like I never left my hometown at all.

It will only get better. With Facebook to soon go public, the company will reach new heights, achieve things greater than any other company before it. What new ways will the company create to be even more connected? I can only dream.

All I know is, the updates to my smartphone don’t come fast enough. What if I were to miss a notification?

In fact, there has to be a way to integrate Facebook and our lives even more. Why not register for classes through Facebook or Twitter? That way, it is easier to compare schedules with friends. Because who wants to be in a class without any friends? But then, why risk not having classes with friends at all?

Why can’t professors record their lectures and post them to Facebook, having the class discuss it in a free-for-all web forum? There’s no way to be more connected than that. It’s efficient, too; everyone with their laptops in class tends to just sits on Facebook anyway, so why not cut out the middleman? The middleman being reality.

And then there’s Twitter. It’s like having all my friends talk to me at once. The ones who have an account, that is. Those who don’t have an account can’t even be considered friends anymore.

What I’m pressing for is Facebook, Twitter and all the other social networks to combine like Power Rangers to form a super social network. If that were to happen, it would be unstoppable and immune to grumpy old people who don’t get the Internet and lame people who think they’re too cool to poke me back on Facebook.

When that happens, and it will, the world as we all know it will change for the better. It will be the utopia our fathers and grandfathers dreamed up for us; the great social machine, a mechanism for us all to see who’s tan, who’s dating who and who from our graduating class just got pregnant.

All the gossip we wanted for so many years, laid out right in front of us.

Nathan Inks/Columnist

Rarely does a politician commit political suicide in a commercial aired during the most watched event on television.

Sunday, senatorial candidate Pete Hoekstra was that exception.

In his ad, a girl of Asian descent riding her bicycle stops to tell the camera in what is clearly fake broken-English, “Thank you Michigan Senator Debbie Spend-it-Now. Debbie spend so much American money, you borrow more and more from us. Your economy get very weak. Ours get very good. We take your jobs. Thank you, Debbie Spend-it-Now.”

Hoekstra comes on to contrast Debbie Spend-it-Now with Pete Spend-it-Not as he approves the campaign message. The Debbie Spend-it-Now part of that ad was the only good part, but the “Spend-it-Not” just seemed corny and weird.

In the 21st century, I would have assumed Hoekstra would know how wrong such an offensive stereotype would be. What makes the ad ironic is the percentage of Chinese who can speak fluent English is higher than the percentage of Americans who can speak fluent Chinese.

The campaign’s response to the ad was almost as bad as the ad itself. The Hoekstra campaign disabled ratings and comments for the ad on YouTube. John Yob, CEO of Strategic National, a major political consulting firm in Michigan, who has served as an advisor for the campaign began deleting all negative comments left on his Facebook link to the ad and deleted those posters from his page. He then left comments implying that people critical of the ad are just liberals and other candidates’ supporters just want to attack Hoekstra.

Not only is that incredibly petty and a terrible public relations move, but it is just not true. I had endorsed Hoekstra and was fully backing him, but after seeing that ad and the response of his advisors, I can no longer support him.

This also goes beyond simply airing an offensive ad; it shows Hoekstra and his campaign have a severe lack of judgment by running the ad and thinking it would have a positive effect. Why would you run a controversial ad during an event more Americans watch than any other event? If he can make such a terrible move in a primary race, what will he do in the general election?

Hoekstra is not only someone who should not represent the Republican Party; he should not represent this great country by serving in our government. What image does this send to the Chinese people if we elect someone like him?

Hoekstra should apologize, and he may gain back the respect of some people. But this severe lack of judgment should result in voters never trusting him with an elected office again.

Nathan Inks is the president of the College Republicans. This column does not necessarily reflect the official views of the organization.

Sean Bradley/Staff Reporter

The Super Bowl came and went again this year and I couldn’t care less.

Sure, I followed the Detroit Lions as they entered the playoffs for the first time in years. After the Lions were eliminated in the wildcard round, I totally stopped caring (as I’m sure many did).

I guess I should clarify something; I didn’t totally stop caring.

It’s just that my enthusiasm for this year’s big game plummeted once I knew the New England Patriots and the New York Giants would be playing in it. I was really hoping to see the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl as they were a team that I hadn’t even expected to make the playoffs (apparently their team has a great defense … I don’t keep up on this all that much). It would be nice to see some teams that hadn’t played the big game only a couple years before, but there’s not much I, nor anyone else, can do about it.

With that being the case, I guess I can dream about how great the halftime show would be if some of my favorite bands like The Cure or Opeth (a death metal band from Sweden) played it. How cool would it be to have a stadium full of people singing along to Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers’ “Ego Loss on Grand River Avenue?” But I digress.

Since my favorite bands are more than likely not the favorite bands of others, we can probably agree on the fact that the last few years of Super Bowl halftime shows have been lackluster, if not downright terrible. Since the Janet Jackson incident in 2004, the performances have been extremely safe, usually featuring the currently hot pop artists like The Black Eyed Peas and collaborative efforts with former Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash and pop kingpin Usher.

This year’s performance, a medley featuring Madonna with LMFAO, Nicki Manaj and M.I.A., was not something I want my eyes (or ears) to be glued to intently. Madonna has been at least 15 years past her prime and these current artists don’t really need the addition of performing with her on their respective resumes. I would rather have seen Madonna perform with up-and-coming bands if nothing else.

Where’s the adventure? Where’s the intrigue? I guess by playing it safe, NBC knows they’ll make the most money, and for that, I don’t blame them.

Heck, even The Who graced the Super Bowl halftime show in 2010 and seemed safe and tame.

I guess I don’t really have that much interest in the Super Bowl, but maybe if they went out on a limb once in a while they might get me to watch.

Ben Harris/Senior Reporter

Question: How much is an English degree worth?

Paying $10,000 a year in tuition is an indicator of what it costs — but what is it worth?

People who are true artists will argue that the pursuit of art is priceless, that their life is so enriched by what they do that nothing else matters.

I will not argue. For me, in increasing my aptitude as a pianist or writer, money is no object. There is nothing more fulfilling than practicing and doing art. I will go on record and say it; for me, jazz and poetry are better than girls or money. And I know there are plenty of people who share my views; secretly maybe, but they agree nonetheless.

It’s a great feeling. Creating something someone other than my mother (who, thankfully, remains my largest,  and oftentimes only, consistent fan), will enjoy gives a person a wonderful feeling of accomplishment and belonging.

That being said,  man can write in the woods. Or on a mountain after milking a goat. When did being a hermit go out of style?

This, too, is a sentiment I know to be widespread among many of my peers. Can a planet-sized hunk of student loan debt follow a person into seclusion? I wonder.

It’s incredibly tempting, for me at least, to throw my hands in the air, drop everything and move up north to be a farmhand. At least when the day is over up there, there’s no homework. It seems to me a lot of people I know or have talked to have had the near-irresistible impulse to quit everything.

And then there’s this to consider: No deer is going to criticize my politics. So what if I can’t write? So what if my verse stinks? There’s honor in hard work, too, and after my chores for the day, what I do in my leisure time is my own business. It’s primal, visceral and unfortunately, a bit silly.

It takes every ounce of strength in me to admit to myself that my dreams of living on a farm are stupid. I don’t even know any farmers. I’ve never planted anything in my life. I can’t even cook macaroni and cheese without making a mess.

At the grocery store, I have a hard time choosing between raw ground beef, which I have to cook, and frozen patties, which I have to warm up. I can’t win.

Maybe I’m just an idiot. But I have the feeling that plenty of other people are having the exact same problem. Sick of paying for school? Join the club. Hate your job sometimes (or all the time)? Join the club. Broke? Join the club.

Yes. I’m whining. I’m crying fat, voluminous tears. But I’m whining for all of us in the club.

Call me a spokesman. And now I’m finished. I’m stuck here, just like everybody else.

So make the most of it.

Senior Reporter/Catey Traylor

People always talk about a defining moment in their life when they learned a lot about themselves and the people around them.

A moment where everything fell apart, eventually fell back together, and the important things in life became crystal clear.

I had never been that person. I had never had a moment like that, and I was beginning to think it wouldn’t ever happen — until Aug. 26, 2011 rolled around.

It started as a typical early-semester weekend, with nothing better to do in this town than wreak havoc on Main Street and try our best to avoid the cops. My best friend came up for the weekend and we party-hopped with friends for a while, until we decided to embrace what Main Street does best, and headed to a frat party. My friend’s mom had called earlier in the night, but neither of us was in any state to talk to our parents, so he ignored the call, put his phone in his pocket and didn’t look at it again. That was at 11 p.m.

At 1 a.m., he checked his phone and had missed calls like nobody’s business. He dialed his voicemail and heard a message that would change our lives forever. His little brother, Ryan, had been hit by a car, and it was bad. Really bad.

To make a long story short, we were rushed to Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, where we learned that Ryan was in a coma, had numerous broken bones and had needed brain surgery already. Little did we know, eight more surgeries would be in Ryan’s future.

As we sat in the waiting room, I watched a mother fight to be strong during the hardest time of her life, an uncle and grandmother stare into space searching for answers, and a brother — my closest friend on this planet — try so hard to believe that things were going to be alright when there was a very real possibility they wouldn’t be. And as much as I wanted to help, to say or do something to fix everything, there was nothing I could do. Except be there.

In that moment, I understood what people were always talking about. Throughout the next four months of Ryan’s hospitalization, my small town came together like a family. I relied on people more than I ever had in the past and I learned to take each and every moment of life for what it’s worth.

Now that I’m the person sharing the story of a defining life moment, I want to leave people with one message. Appreciate the people in your life. Tell your mom you love her, spend time with your dad, and even if they piss you off, tell your siblings how much they mean to you, because in an instant, everything can change and you’d give anything in this world to rewind time.

I think Lee Brice got it right when he said “Never let your prayin’ knees get lazy, and love like crazy.”

Staff Reporter/Anna McNeill

Tuesday it was a balmy 50 degrees, where a few days before that, it was in the 30s with blustery snow.

I spend part of every day sitting and looking out at the the window wondering what today’s weather is going to be, just wondering. It could start out dull, bleak, the sky covered in dreary clouds, then by midday the sun could break through and be blinding.

Michigan doesn’t know what it wants.

When Michigan gets into one of its “moods,” where one day it’s giving off wicked sunburn skies and the next hypothermia could set in with just a few seconds of exposure, people here react in strange ways.

Michiganders should be accustomed to temperature fluctuations by now, but apparently our bodies and brains don’t know how to keep up.

One day the population is bundled up in winter coats, fuzzy mittens, wool hats and snow boots, then the next those same people are wearing sweatshirts, while others seem to think they’re in the midst of the epic heat wave of the century.

From being bundled up to rocking the sweatshirt with the booty shorts and fuzzy boots, this is Michigan’s reality.

We deal with it, laughing off the fact that it happens to us and that we are victims of this mixed-weather crime.

Here are some possibilities of what one might see: men wear workout shorts and T-shirts while girls skimp on the clothing because the temperature rose by 20 degrees in one night, and in Michigan, that is looked at oddly for a moment then a head is shaken and the sight has been registered and accepted by the brain.

I sit back and giggle when the gust of wind blows between the campus buildings and the girls scream in chilled surprise.

Their thought could almost be heard, “What the heck? It is like Spring and stuff. Why is this wind being cold?”

The reality of it is it’s winter and Michigan is messing with the masses by throwing a spring-time day out there in the freezing cold of late January.

We are an odd breed, Michiganders. We have grown thick-skinned, because that is how our weather has conditioned us. Hot then cold, cold then freezing, freezing to mild, then back to cold.

We know that when we walk outside and aren’t instantly chilled to the bone, that it is a good day to ride with the windows down, to bust out the motorcycle — heck, that it’s time to get our tan on.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not claiming innocence. Having been born and raised in Michigan, I participate in this weirdness as well.

I am that girl who travels to Texas over Spring Break and busts out her short shorts and tank tops when all the Texans are bundled up in sweatshirts and long johns.

It’s what our state has done to us. Let us embrace it and laugh at our own ridiculousness.

Welcome to Michigan, where the weather has a short attention span and we just try to keep up.

David Oltean/Senior Reporter

As unemployment rates spike, gas prices rise and the monstrous United States national debt continues to quietly accumulate, many Americans have began to express a distrust toward Barack Obama and the current presidential administration.

Regardless of your viewpoints toward Obama, one aspect of his presidency is undeniable: The man can speak.

Poise, confidence and charisma all flowed out of the man’s mouth during his State of the Union address, unlike any of the continuous banter we’ve seen in recent weeks in Republican debates.

“Tax returns” this or “insider trading” that. We understand Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney — you two will do whatever it takes to earn the nomination. Just don’t swear by Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment, because thou has definitely spoken fairly ill of other Republican candidates.

While Obama delivers speeches with eloquence and energy, Gingrich looks like he could use a towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead after every defensive remark. While Obama tries his best to ensure he doesn’t offend particular societal groups, so does Romney, but only because he’s changed his mind enough times to appease whoever can take him to the White House.

Love him or hate him, the man has the ability to talk his way into the hearts of the American public — just look at the way he managed to not completely embarrass himself with the State of the Union “spilled milk” joke. His recent ode to Al Green while speaking in New York on Jan. 19 is hard not to smile at.

Sure, the old adage has always been “talk is cheap,” and the growing problems in the country may suit the phrase for Obama. However, it may be more applicable to a comparison of Obama’s $400,000 presidential salary to Gingrich’s for-profit consulting and production companies or Romney’s ties with Bain Capital.

It’s unfair to beat up on Gingrich, who has had his moments in recent debates and inspired cheers from Republican crowds in Southern states. Looking back at CNN’s Jan. 19 debate held in South Carolina, Gingrich managed to make Peter King look like the villain for asking a question about Gingrich’s infidelity.

I mean, how can asking about the man’s extramarital affairs or tendencies to divorce his sickly wives be fair game in a presidential debate? It’s not like America’s president is expected to display utmost character or that Gingrich has a firm stance protecting the institution of marriage from homosexuality or anything.

Let’s not forget the former candidate Gov. Rick Perry either. The only noteworthy comments that came out of his mouth during his candidacy were on YouTube when he managed to denounce the First Amendment and insult homosexuals, atheists and religions other than Christianity alike — all in 31 seconds.

Though speaking may be only a portion of presidency, isn’t a politician’s most valuable skill his ability to inspire?

Newt and Mitt — start getting in front of the mirror now.

Nathan Inks/Columnist

During the past week, there has been a lot of talk about the “Republican establishment” coming out in opposition to Newt Gingrich in a campaign to ensure Mitt Romney is chosen as the Republican nominee.

What exactly people mean by “Republican establishment” is not exactly clear, but apparently they are a bunch of mean, nasty people who go around slandering Gingrich in order to get the “moderate” Romney elected — at least that is the story coming from the media, the Tea Party, and lately, Sarah Palin.

Palin recently wrote a Facebook note accusing “Cannibals in GOP Establishment” of “Employ(ing) Tactics of the Left,” saying “we need a fair primary that is not prematurely cut short by the GOP establishment using Alinsky tactics to kneecap Governor Romney’s chief rival.” The “Alinsky tactics” Palin refers to are those of Saul Alinsky, who wrote “Rules for Radicals,” a book focusing on how to rebel against the establishment.

How she figures the establishment is using “Alinsky tactics” against Gingrich is a bit of a mystery, considering Gingrich likes to accuse President Barack Obama of using Alinsky tactics, and if the establishment used such tactics, they would somehow be rebelling against themselves — so clearly there is some logic lacking in that accusation.

The theme of her note is two-fold: that the establishment should stop pushing for Romney and consider Gingrich, Santorum and Paul as viable options as the party’s nominee, but also that this is bigger than Romney versus Gingrich — it is a fight between the “establishment” and the Tea Party.

The reason Palin and others talk about this fight is because of recent attacks against Gingrich being a “Reagan Republican.” But are accusations such as this really indicative of a schism in the GOP? Not really. Ultimately, it comes down to primary election politics and nothing more.

Gingrich was the Speaker of the House of Representatives — second in line for the presidency. Romney was a governor. If anything, Gingrich is the Washington insider who has been a part of the “establishment” longer than Romney.

So why are more of the “Old Guard” Republicans backing Romney? They have witnessed more elections; they know which candidates can win. Gingrich has a lot of baggage, while Romney has shown he can compromise with those on the other side of the aisle to get things done but still abide to Republican ideals. Romney is the electable choice, and those who have been involved in politics see this.

The Tea Partiers support Gingrich as the more conservative choice, because they mainly vote on principle — but voting purely on principle without factoring in electability typically ends in a loss on Election Day.

Palin is right — the GOP needs to let the primary process play itself out, but in doing so, Republican voters need to think about electing someone who can actually win. It’s time to pick a nominee, not throw around conspiracy theories to cloud the nomination process.

Editor’s note: Nathan Inks is the president of the College Republicans.

Andrew Dooley/Student Life Editor

I have never been a particularly graceful person.

Despite brief stints on the track and tennis teams in my glory days, I have never been an athlete.

In grade school, I bowled a 27 at my cousins’s birthday party.

There were bumpers involved.

Still, I have fallen a record number of times this winter. While the sidewalks on campus are finally being regularly salted and cleared, the sidewalks in my neighborhood and downtown remain thoroughly glacial.

In a lot of places, it makes a lot more sense to walk in the street or on people’s lawns, which isn’t exactly safe or fair to the homeowners. Pedestrians shouldn’t have to choose between falling, risking getting hit by a car or trespassing.

This might seem like a trite subject, but don’t confuse slip and fall accidents with cartoon banana peels. I have never come away without anything more than a bruised ego or backside all the times I have biffed it, but there are plenty of people who aren’t so lucky.

I was speaking to a student in one of my classes last week who is dealing with neurological problems after falling, hitting her head and suffering a concussion. For people with pre-existing mobility issues or the elderly, falling isn’t silly — it’s dangerous.

It might be a pain for me to navigate our frosty footpaths, but it’s a much more daunting proposition for someone on crutches or in a wheelchair.

People with disabilities, like my Mom, who has a knee replacement and has a very hard time getting around in a supermarket, let alone on a rink, shouldn’t be forced to stick to cars as the only means of safe transportation.

Obviously, there are economic and environmental reasons every sidewalk can’t be cleared, sanded or salted. But that’s no reason to collectively give up on better, safer infrastructure. In order to continue to move toward a healthier and “greener” future, cities need to be walkable. It’s very hard to see how an impassably icy sidewalk helps us toward that admirable goal.

With budgets stretched, maintenance is one of the first things that gets trimmed, but maybe a bit of perspective is needed. Funding for winter sidewalk maintenance would make cities safer, more assessable to more people and encourage healthier habits.

According to a 2010 report from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, falling is the leading cause of non-lethal injury for Americans across every age category. While many of these occur inside the home, falling on ice remains a clear and present danger. It’s also one that’s entirely preventable.

Continuing to ignore the concrete luge leading from Bellows to Broadway leaves us on a slippery slope.

Jessica Fecteau/Senior Reporter

They say the first step is admitting. Therefore, I have a confession to make: I love watching The Bachelor.

Call it a guilty pleasure or an embarrassing one, either way, two hours of my Monday nights are dedicated to the reality show.

I mean, how could I not fall susceptible to the preview commercials saying it’s the most (insert enticing word here) season yet?

Seeing 25 desperate women fight, cry and throw themselves at their “dream guy” just fills my heart with pure entertainment.

Never being a big fan of fist pumping, I have gravitated toward watching these women be degraded on national television.

It never fails to make me cringe in delight as they take the walk of rejection back to the mysterious black limo and spoon feed encouragement to every person who stereotypes women.

“I really thought he was the one,” each women says as she sobs into the camera. I can’t help but laugh at how 25 different women magically “fall in love” with this season’s Bachelor, Ben, after simply speaking with him.

I mean, it doesn’t hurt that he’s pretty cute, owns a vineyard and is handing out free roses, but to claim love at first sight exists is almost worse than going on the show in the first place.

And this is why I love it.

Totally “normal” people kissing, dating and falling for the same guy that their bunk buddy is also swooning over? This is definitely the perfect way to fall in love.

Many often claim this show is their last resort on their search for love. Does that mean 24 of them go home and become cat ladies? After 16 seasons, that’s a lot of cats.

The only reason I could see myself signing up to commit public social suicide is for the traveling these people get to experience for free.

From St. Lucia to Paris, I’d be down to entertain America with a few cat fights just to make it to the next dream destination; not to mention the dates they go on.

Yes, it’s a dream world out there for contestants. A dream world that comes crashing down after the cameras, lights and makeup crew disappear, and they’re left with bills, a job and a guy who doesn’t take you on dates to the Eiffel Tower anymore. Otherwise known as real people problems.

No wonder only one couple has made it through marriage and children while still going strong. And yes, I am not counting Jason who chose one girl then went back on his decision and married the runner-up he first sent home.

But in the end, if there’s just no hope in finding love on this reality TV show, there’s always the Bachelor Pad.